New figures reveal that over 50% of children of compulsory school age working in Cumbria are employed illegally.
The Child Employment Research Group at Paisley University last year carried out a study on behalf of Cumbria County Council. Over 500 year 10 students from five secondary schools across the county were surveyed to find out various aspects of their employment experience.
This is the first time any comprehensive data has been collated about child employment since the early 90s. Cumbria County Council will now analyse this data to target resources in the areas needed and work with other agencies to devise effective programmes to regulate child employment.
The main findings in the report are:
11% work more than the legal limit of 12 hours per week.
21% start before 7am (the law does not allow children to begin work before 7am)
52% don't finish until after 7pm (the law does not allow children to work after 7pm)
19% began working before the age of 13 (children are not allowed to work before the age of 13)
All research findings will be announced at the North West Regional Group of Child Employment and Entertainment Officers general meeting at the Westmorland Hotel on 14th July at 11am.
Stephen Mason, senior education officer for attendance and exclusion said:
"Legislation on child employment is largely ignored. We are already ahead of the game here in Cumbria since employing two child employment officers in the county. In order to tackle this properly we need to have some base level data on young people's work across the county. This information will enable us to assess the impact of any initiatives we set up to improve compliance with the legislation. We are already analysing the data and will soon be going back to Paisley University to meet the researchers and work together to target our resources and devise new initiatives."
County councillor Philip Chappelhow, cabinet spokesman for children's services said:
"I am pleased that the research group has recognised the very good work already being done in Cumbria on child employment. There is a lack of understanding nationally of the environments that young people work in, who they work with and the potential risks associated with part time employment. Children of compulsory school-age can benefit from part-time work provided the employment is suitable and properly regulated. It is important that we continue to raise awareness of the regulations among employers and parents to ensure that young people find their work experience a happy and fulfilling one.
The county council's education welfare service work hard to devise strategies to work in collaboration with other agencies and our child employment officers have already successfully developed many working practices which are unique to this area for the benefit of the young people in this County. This research will give us more indication of the types of initiatives we need to try and what areas it is most needed."